Rail clamp



Dec. 20, 1955 L.. w. vlcKLUN i RAIL CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 26, 1954 ,m q EK w H, w a W f f M 10 W w Wu m ATTORNEYS Dec. 2o, 1955 L. w. vlKLUN 2,727,593

y RAIL CLAMP Filed Feb. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j IN VEgV TOR.

ATTCI RN EYE United States Patent() RAIL CLAMP Lloyd W. Vicklun, Superior, Wis. Application February 26, 1954, Serial No. 412,898 3 Claims. (Cl. 188-43) This invention relates to a clamping device or rail brake, and more particularly to a rail brake for movable bridges, cranes and the like that move along rails.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamping device which will securely clamp a structure such as a movable bridge or crane and the like on rails so that accidental movement of the car or other structure will be prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device for fastening any type of structure in place that moves along steel rails and wherein the structure will be secured in place even though the rails may be wet or icy, the clampingdevice being simple to operate and requiring little maintenance, the clamp frame riding on top of the rail to clean the rail of any obstructions such as ice or snow.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail clamp which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to desig nate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the rail clamp, with parts broken away and in section.V

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rail clamp, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure l, and taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified rail clamp, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4.

Referring in detail to`Figures l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral designates a base which can be made of any suitable material, and the base 10 is provided with a cutout or recess 11 for receiving therein a rail 13, Figure l. The rail 13 may form part of a track, and the cutout 11 in the base denes a vertical wall 12. Arranged contiguous to the Wall'12 is a wearing shoe 14. For maintaining the shoe 14 in place, a pair of clamping bars 15 are provided, and these clamping bars 15 may be secured to the base by suitable securing elements such as bolts or screws 16. The wearing shoe 14 is adapted to contact one side of the rail 13.

Projecting upwardly from the top of the base 10 and secured thereto is a pair of vertically disposed spaced parallel ribs 17. There is further provided on top of the base 10 a pair of convergent plates or ribs 18 which meet at a point, and a brace 19 is positioned between the plates 18, Figure 2. Extending upwardly from the juncture of the plates 18 and the brace 19 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as for example by welding, is avertically disposed U-shaped beam`20. A horizontally disposed bracket 21 is secured to the beam 20 in any suitable i of electrical energy by any suitable means.

2,727,593 Patented Dec. 270, 1955 manner, and the bracket 21 is provided with a slot 22 for a purpose to be later described.

Slidably positioned in the slot 22 is a spring member or fiat torsion rod 23 which is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced apertures or openings 24. A chain 25 has its upper end secured to the bracket 21, and a pin 26 is carried by the chain 25. A ring 27 is secured to the upper end of the spring member 23. Thus, by manually gripping the ring 27 the spring member 23 can be raised up through the slot 22 to the desired elevation or height after which the pin 26 can be projected through one of the apertures 24 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 so that the spring member 23 will be maintained immobile in its various adjusted positions. t

Secured to the lower end of the spring member 23 is a rotatable hollow tube 28, and the tube 28 is provided with a cutout 29 which allows rotation of the tube 28 on a post 30. The post 30 is secured to the base in any' suitable manner, and the post 30 is stationary, and the post 30 provides a support and guide for the rotatable and vertically shiftable tube 28. A horizontally disposed flange 31 is secured to the lower end of the tube 28, Figure l. The purpose of the flange 31 is to impart motion to a cam 32 during movement of the clamp by reason of the friction between the flange 31 and the top of the rail 13. The cam or eccentrically pivoted clamping jaw 32 is secured to the undersurface of the flange 31 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of bolts 33. The cam 32 is mounted for swinging movement through an arc, and the cam 32 is movably mounted in a recess or cutout 34 in the base 10. The cam 32 is provided with a plurality of serrations or teeth 35 which are arranged on the opposite side of the rail 13 from the wearing shoe 14.

Secured to the base 10 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding is a pair of inclined bumpers 36. These bumpers 36 are adapted to be engaged by a projecting portion 37 of the structure which may be a movable bridge, crane or the like that is to be held immoble or stationary on the rails 13, Figure 3. The numeral 34 indicates the top wall surface of the cutout 11, and one of the vertical side walls of the cutout 11 is lined with the shoe 14. The surface 34 coacts or cooperates with the shoe 14 to hold the device in proper position with respect to the rail and also serves to removeforeign matter from the rail. A triangular shaped brace 38 extends between the tube 28 and the iiange 31 and is `secured thereto for maintaining the parts immobile in their proper position.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings there is shown a modified brake or clamping device Which includes an electromagnetic means for elevating the cam 32 instead of the manual ring 27. Thus, in Figure 4 the parts are ofthe same construction as those shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 except that a plate 39 is securedtov the upper surface of` a portion of the base 10. The plate 39 is secured in place by bolts 40, Figures 4 and 5, and a pin 41 is carried by the plate 39. The pin 41 is adapted to project through an aperture or opening 42 in the ange 31 when the flange 31 is in its raised position.' Thus,- when the pin 41 projects into the opening 42 rotation of the cam 32 is prevented so that the cam 32 cannot move into locking engagement with the side of the rail 13 opposite from the wearing shoe 14.

There is further provided in the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 a collar 43 which is secured to the bracket 21 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding, and a hollow casing 44 is securedtofthe upper end of the collar 43. An electromagnet or electromagnetic coil 45 is arranged within the casing 44, andV the coil 45 is adapted to be connected to a suitablesource. A movable core 46 is positioned in the coil 45, and the bottom of thecore 46 is connected to the top of the spring member 23 by means of a bolt andnut assembly 4,7.

Secured to the top of the core 46 is a rod 48 which projects through an opening 49 in the top of the casing '44. A coil ispring :50 v:is circumposedon v4the rod '48, and the coil spring 50 abuts a `washer S1 which is .held =on the -rod48 by-nuts 52, Figure 4.

In using 'the assembly shown Ain Figures 31, 2 and :3, when the clamp is ,not applied as when the device Iis to -be moved along the rail 13, the ring 27 is manually .gripped vand raised from the solid rline position of Figure 1 vto the dotted line position of Figure 1. This causes the tube 28 and the cam 32 to be ilifted to the broken kline position `of -Figure l whereby the complete assembly can yb e moved along the rail '13 to any desired location. The gparts -are held in the raised :position by means ofthe pin 26 which is projected through one of the apertures 24 and the pin 26 is positioned above the bracket 21. When the brake is to be applied, the ipin .26 is removed from the aperture 24 whereby `the tube 2S land cam 32 will drop by gravity to the solid lline position of Figure -,l. Then, .upon any movementfof the assembly the teeth of the cam 32 will engage one side of the rail 13 while the Wearing shoe 14 will engage the other side of the rail 13. Thus, the teeth 35 will cam or lock against the rail 13 and the tube 28 will rotate on the post 30 and at the same time the spring member 23 will twist to conform to therotation of the tube 28. Therefore further movement Vof the device will be prevented so that a structure being held stationary such as the structure 37 abutting one of the bumpers 36, Figure 3, will be maintained immobile in any desired position.

In Figures 4 and 5 instead of using the manually operable ring 27 for raising the tube 28 and cam 32 as when the device is to be shifted along the rail 13, there is provided an electromagnetic coil for moving the cam 32 up above its locking position with the rail 13. Upon activation of the coil 45, the core 46 will be elevated to thereby lift the spring member 23 and the tube 28 which in turn raises the cam 32. When the cam 32 is raised straight up, the aperture 42 in the flange 31. will receive the pin 41 so that rotation of the cam 32 is prevented. Thus, with the yparts in their raised position as shown in Figure 4 the cam 32 will not lock the device to the rails 13. However, when the coil 45 is relieved of electrical energy from any suitable source of supply, the core 46 will be moved downwardly against the tension of the coil spring 50 which is for the purpose of counter-balancing some of the weight of the core 46 so that only a smaller amount of electrical energy will be required to raise the cam, and this downward movement of the core 46 will move the tube 28 and the cam 32 downwardly so that the aperture 42 will be free of the pin 41. Then, the teeth 35 of the cam 32 will cooperate with the wearing shoe 14 to securely clamp the rail 13 therebetween. When electrical energy is no longer being supplied to the coil 45, the spring 50 will be overcome by the weight of the core and return the parts to the position shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 4 and 5 the pin or peg 41 is arranged so that when the cam '32 is raised, the pin 41 will enter the opening 42 and therefore lock the cam 32 in neutral position. In Figures 4 and 5 the cam with the automatic lifting device is raised just high enough to engage the pin 41 so that the iiange 31 clears the top of the rail 13 so that the cam 32 is `always in a position to engage the rail 13 upon avery short drop. The rail clamp of the present invention can be used for securing in place movable structures such as movable bridges, cranes and the like so that these structures will not run away or be displaced eventhough adverse weather conditions may arise such as high winds and the like. The invention uses a double serrated cam 32 which is in direct contact with the rail 13 and the assembly has great holding power so that movablestructures that ,travel on rails can be secured in place. The cam 32 engages the rail 13 over which the structure travels and the cam 32 is serrated or provided with teeth 35 and .is .double acting. Also, the cam can be lifted and will rotate and the structure to be secured in place may be any type of device such as a coal and ore unloading bridge and tower, or a crane that travels on rails although the clamp can be used with other structures. The rail clamp of the present invention is intended primarily for the protection of movable structures and is confined between two struts 37 that are bolted to the structure to accommodate the rail clamp. The entire rail clamp assembly slides along the rail with the cam 32 in raised position ready to be dropped to clamp the structure. The spring member k23 moves through the slot 22 in the bracket y21 so that when the cam is lifted, the cam will move to a neutral position as the result of the inherent resiliency of the spring member. The lifting ring 27 is provided for raising the cam above the rail when the structure is proceeding along the rail in performing its work and whenever the structure is at rest the cam is dropped toits lowered position as shown in solid lines in Figure 1 so that the flange 31 contacts the top of the rail 13. The cam stays inths position unless the structure is moved unintentionally lby being bumped or by high winds to which these structures are very susceptible. In the act of moving, the struts 37 of the structure move the clamp body along the rail 13, and the cam 32 rolls along the rail because ofits contact with the rail through the flange 31 and this brings the high side of the cam 32 to bear against the rail 13. This forces the rail 13 against the wearing shoe 14 and friction between the wearing shoe 14 and the rail 13 stops any further movement of the clamp along the rail.

The clamping device of the present invention is of simple construction and requires very little maintenance and the clamping device will secure the structure in place even though conditions may be Wet, frosty or icy or even though the rail 13 may be oily. When the srtucture is to be moved the cam 32 is raised to clear the rail 13 and after the moving has been completed, the cam 32 is lowered so that the ange 31 rests on top of the rail 13. Then, any movement of the structure along the rail 13 will move the body of the clamp with it and the cam 32 will engage the rail due to friction between the flange 3l and the rail. If the forces tending to move the srtucture are great enough, the serrations or teeth 35 on the hard face of the cam 32 will impress themselves into the side of the rail 13 with enough force to gear the cam to the side of the rail. This cam acting on one side of the rail forces the rail against the wearing shoe 14 and the friction thus created will prevent any further movement of the clamping device and structure along the rail. This cam 32 is a double acting cam since it stops travel in either direction on the rail. The clamping device can be operated manually or electrically as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and only has to be lifted a short distance to be disengaged from the rail. Further, the cam is of a positive self-centering construction due to provision of the llat spring 23 which guides the flange 31 to rest on the rail. Also, the clamp frame or base 10 rides on top of the rail 13 to clean the rail of any obstructions such as ice or snow and the wearing shoe 14 on one side of the rail. When the clamp has become locked to the rail 13, it is released by reversing the travel of the structure.

The clamping jaw 32 in the Figure 4 device is sonicwhat automatic since a loss of electrical energy to the solenoid coil will allow the core to drop thus engaging the ange 31 with the rail 13 whereby the cam is put in position to set or lock.

I claim:

1. A rail clamping device comprising a base, a vertically disposed post projecting upwardly from said base and secured thereto, a tube rotatably and slidably mounted on said post, means for raising said tube, a vertically disposed beam extending upwardly from said base and secured thereto, a horizontally disposed liange secured to the lower end of said tube, a clamping jaw carried by said flange and provided with a plurality of teeth for engagement with one side of a rail, a wearing shoe carried by said base for engagement with the other side of said rail, said ange being mounted for rotation about said post to bring the high point of said jaw into wedging action with the side of said rail when the flange engages the top of said rail.

2. The structure as defined n claim l wherein said means comprises a manually operable lifting ring.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means comprises an electromagnetic coil.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hill Apr. 24, 1900 Kelly Aug. 7, 1917 Lehr Jan. 3, 1922 Thorne Oct. 28, 1924 Fischer Aug. 11, 1925 Snow 2--- Sept. 12, 1939 Gilbert Feb. 6, 1940 Zahodiakin Feb. 13, 1945 

